Doublehanded race to Spain

11 boats to set sail on the Royal Southampton YC's BNY Mellon Biscay Challenge

22 intrepid yachtsmen are making final preparations this weekend for a challenging yacht race from the Solent to northern Spain. They are on countdown for the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's biennial 540-mile BNY Mellon Biscay Challenge which starts in the Solent on Saturday, 18 June, their destination, Hondarribia in the heart of Basque country on the border of Spain with France. Along the way they face Solent tides, the busy shipping lanes of the English Channel, the rounding of Ushant and the notorious waters of the Bay of Biscay.

BBC South weather presenter Alexis Green will be giving competing sailors a breakdown on the expected weather they face at a race briefing for crews at the Ocean Village clubhouse on the eve of departure. Also planning to be there to lend support is quadriplegic sailor Geoff Holt, an honorary member of the Royal Southampton and current holder of the coveted YJA Pantaenius Yachtsman of the Year title. Both will be attending the BNY Mellon Reception and Pre-Departure Supper from 19.45 on Friday, to which all members are invited.

Among the fleet heading for Hondarribia are Royal Southampton members Bob Trimble, Tim Wilson, Ed de Mesquita and Bryan Sheinman. Trimble will be skippering his 39ft Arc, an Arcona 400; Wilson, a veteran from the 2009 race, will be skippering his Dragonfly multihull Cold Fusion Reloaded; while Sheinman will be skippering his Oyster sloop, Wild Oyster with Ed de Mesquita.

Each boat has a crew of two and the race is regarded as one of the most tactical and challenging competitive sailing events around.

Main sponsor is the investment arm of the Bank of New York, BNY Mellon Asset Management which will be taking a group of its key clients on the 200ton Princess Caroline to see the start of the race.

Hon race director, Roger Townsend, said: "Whilst I have to be disappointed with the low level of entries, thanks to the efforts of the Race Management Team, the support of our Supporters Hondarribia Yacht Club, EKP Marinas and Ginsters, and especially our Principle Sponsor BNY Mellon whose contribution has been immense, this will still be an event of which the Club can be proud, as anyone visiting Ocean Village on the 17/18th will witness."

Provisional entry list: